And so the wonderful indoor camp was got together. They fetched sticks and fir cones from the wood, and lit the fire, and then dashed out to see how the chimney was drawing. It wasn't, and the barn soon filled with choking smoke. David borrowed a ladder from the rickyard, and found an old nest built snugly into the top of the iron pipe, and when he had pulled this out the fire burned well. Peter found Grumpy pottering about and got him to bring over a sack of potatoes. The hammock was a great success, and they slung that low from two of the oak pillars facing the stove. Then when they had got in everything, Mrs. Sterling found them some eggs and told them to get on now and cook their own lunches.

"And didn't you say something about another friend, Peter? Tom, was it? Tom Ingles? Why don't you ask him for the week-end? He'll be no trouble while you're all here. I'll write a note to his mother. Oh, aunt, isn't it?... Well I'll write now and you can post it in the village this afternoon... Good-bye. I don't want to see any more of you for a long time."

When she had left them, David turned to Peter.

"I thought you didn't like this place? I agree that Uncle is a rum old bird, but I do like your aunt. I was thinking, Peter. We'll call this Headquarters Number Two, and it's thanks to you we've got it... Listen. Here come the twins. I wonder what they've done with Uncle?"

Dickie and Mary came through the gate, stopped as one man when they saw the others, and then advanced more slowly. But upon this occasion Dickie had more to say than his twin. Mary made one or two attempts to take her usual share in the abuse hurled at their elders for keeping a secret from them, but she seemed to be thinking of something else most of the time.

When David was able to make himself heard, he said, "No need to make such a noise, Dickie. What you both ought to be doing is thanking Peter who planned this place and has got it ready for us all with Mrs. Sterling. It's a fine indoor camp for the Lone Piners, and we're going to call it Headquarters Number Two. We're going to eat here and sleep here, too. Now just be quiet and look round and see how lucky we are. There's an upstairs, too, where the girls will sleep..."

This was quite a long speech for David, and it silenced the twins, although Dickie grimaced horribly to Mary to signify his disgust.